Method and system for using boot servers in networks

1. A method for re-booting a server operationally coupled to a network via an adapter, comprising:

(a) accessing a boot server blade that is remote to the server,

wherein the boot server blade is a switch that stores a boot server for re-booting the server and is coupled to the adapter,

wherein the boot server includes:

a list of worldwide port numbers that can be assigned to the adapter, and

an active profile of the server, wherein the active profile allows for booting the server to a certain system profile,

(b) registering a default world wide port number (“WWPN”) with the boot server stored at the switch

wherein the adapter registers with the boot server and provides the active profile;

(c) determining that the adapter is already configured for re-booting;

(d) sending a new WWPN to the adapter configured for re-booting the server; wherein the switch sends the new WWPN for re-booting the server based on the determination that the adapter is already configured for re-booting;

(e) registering the new WWPN with a name server maintained by the switch;

(f) querying the boot server for a list that includes a plurality of boot devices; wherein the adapter queries the switch for said list;

(g) returning a list of boot devices to the adapter that the adapter is configured to use for re-booting the server, wherein the switch returns the list of boot devices in response to the query in step (f); and

(h) using a boot device from the list of boot devices to perform a re-boot operation,

wherein the boot device includes a logical storage structure for storing boot instructions that are used for re-booting the server.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adapter is a host bus adapter that registers the new WWPN sent by the switch.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the host bus adapter uses the list of boot devices to configure a first available boot device from the list for the re-boot operation.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the boot server includes a boot schedule for re-booting the server.

5. A system, comprising:

a server operationally coupled to a network via an adapter; and

a switch operational and accessible to the server via the network and the adapter,

wherein the switch includes a storage medium storing a boot server that is used to boot the server;

wherein the boot server stored at the storage medium includes:

a plurality of world wide port numbers that can be assigned to the adapter,

an active profile of the server, wherein the active profile allows for booting the server to a certain system profile, and

a boot schedule including information of when the server needs to be re-booted, based on which the server is re-booted using the boot server, and

wherein to re-boot the server, the adapter:

accesses the switch;

registers a default world wide port number (“WWPN”) with the boot server stored at the switch,

wherein the adapter registers with the boot server and provides the profile;

receives a new WWPN from the switch,

wherein the new WWPN is sent based on a determination that the adapter is already configured for rebooting;

registers the new WWPN with a name server maintained by the switch;

queries the boot server for a list that includes a plurality of boot devices;

wherein the adapter queries the switch for said list; receives a list of boot devices from the boot server for the adapter to use for re-booting the server,

wherein the switch returns the list of boot devices in response to the query; and

uses a boot device from the list of boot devices to perform a re-boot operation,

wherein the boot device stores a logical storage structure for storing boot instructions that are used for re-booting the server.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the adapter is a host bus adapter (HBA) and the HBA uses the WWPN it received from the boot server to register with the name server and then query the boot server for the list of boot devices.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein if the adapter is not configured for the re-boot operation, then the switch sends a status indicating that the re-boot operation cannot be performed.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the information registered with the boot server blade is used for another re-boot operation.

9. A system, comprising:

a server operationally coupled to a storage area network via an adapter;

a switch accessible to the server via the storage area network; and

a computing system, the computer system including a processor executing a management application for configuring the storage area network;

wherein the management application provides a graphical user interface to a user for creating a logical unit number (“LUN”) and assigning the LUN to operate as a boot LUN;

wherein the boot LUN stores information for re-booting the server and is accessible via a boot server stored at a storage medium for the switch; and

wherein the boot server includes:

a list of worldwide port numbers that can be assigned to the adapter;

an active profile of the server, wherein the active profile allows for booting the server to a certain system profile, and

a boot schedule including information of when the server needs to be re-booted, and

wherein to re-boot the server, the adapter:

accesses the switch;

registers a default world wide port number (“WWPN”) with the boot server stored at the switch,

wherein the adapter registers with the boot server and provides the profile;

receives a new WWPN from the switch,

wherein the new WWPN is sent based on a determination that the adapter is already configured for rebooting;

registers the new WWPN with a name server maintained by the switch;

queries the boot server for a list that includes a plurality of boot devices;

wherein the adapter queries the switch for said list; receives a list of boot devices from the boot server for the adapter to use for re-booting the server,

wherein the switch returns the list of boot devices in response to the query; and

uses a boot device from the list of boot devices to perform a re-boot operation,

wherein the boot device stores the boot LUN with boot instructions for rebooting the server.

10. The system of Claim 9 , wherein the adapter is a host bus adapter.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the boot server is stored at a storage device other than the switch and is accessible to the switch.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the adapter is not configured for the re-boot operation, then the switch sends a status indicating that the re-boot operation cannot be performed.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the information registered with the boot server blade is used for another re-boot operation.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein if the adapter is not configured for the re-boot operation, then the switch sends a status indicating that the re-boot operation cannot be performed.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the information registered with the boot server is used for another re-boot operation.